Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The Lipp brewery was founded on 27 October 1880 by Léonard Lipp, an Alsatian who had fled his native region after his annexation by Germany. Located at 151 boulevard Saint-Germain in Paris, it offers Alsatian cuisine (choucroute, cervelas) and beer, attracting a popular clientele thanks to its modest prices. The establishment, originally called Brasserie des Bords du Rhin, changed its name during the First World War due to the Germanophobia of the environment, becoming Brasserie des Bords. Its interior decoration, designed at the beginning of the 20th century, includes the wall ceramics of Léon Fargue depicting exotic plants and ceilings painted by Charley Garry.

In 1905, Jules Cazé purchased the brewery before reselling it to Mr. In 1920, Marcelin Cazes (not Marcellin) became its owner and the renowned Brasserie Lipp. It modernises the property with Moleskin benches and a second room built in 1925 by architect Léon Madeline, decorated with mosaics inspired by original panels. In 1935, Marcelin Cazes created the Cazes Prize, a literary prize for young authors. The brewery became a meeting place for personalities such as Verlaine, Apollinaire, or later, French presidents and international celebrities.

The brewery was also the scene of historical events, such as the abduction of Mehdi Ben Barka in 1965, a political scandal that marked Franco-Moroccan relations. In 1947, a closed terrace was added. Despite the changes in owners (notably Olivier Bertrand in 2002), decors and menus have remained unchanged since the 1930s. Partially classified at the Historic Monuments in 1989 for its front and interior decorations, Lipp retains its status as a mythical place, frequented today mainly by tourists.

The Cazes Prize, still awarded annually, rewards authors under the age of 40 (originally) with a grant of 4,000 euros and free meals at the brewery. His winners include such names as Kléber Haedens (1938), François Cavanna (1979), and Shan Sa (2000). The jury, chaired in 2025 by Léa Santamaria, includes literary personalities such as Mohammed Aïssaoui and Nicolas d'Estienne d'Orves. The brewery also appeared in cultural works, such as the films Paris in August (1966) and Tanguy (2001).

Future

Every year she awards a literary prize, the Cazes Prize, from the name of one of her former owners.

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